gelatin

noun

gel·​a·​tin ˈje-lə-tən 

variants or less commonly gelatine

1

: glutinous material obtained from animal tissues by boiling

especially : a colloidal protein used as a food, in photography, and in medicine

2

a

: any of various substances (such as agar) resembling gelatin

b

: an edible jelly made with gelatin

3

: gel sense 2

Examples of gelatin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This vintage gelatin salad was formerly the star of ladies' luncheons across the South. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025

Almost all the photographs in the show are gelatin silver prints made from negative film, the standard of 20th century classical photography. —Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025

Manufacturers extract collagen, the fibrous protein that connects muscles, bones and skins, and then turn it into gelatin, according to MedicalNews Today. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Built from human-compatible materials The model’s structure is built from a biological scaffold of gelatin methacrylate and alginate, materials chosen to mimic the colon’s soft tissue. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French gélatine edible jelly, gelatin, from Italian gelatina, from gelato, past participle of gelare to freeze, from Latin — more at cold

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gelatin

• skeleton
• cytoskeleton
• exoskeleton

Kids Definition

gelatin

noun

gel·​a·​tin

variants also gelatine

ˈjel-ət-ᵊn 

1

: gummy or sticky protein obtained by boiling animal tissues and used as food, in photography, and in medicine

2

: an edible jelly formed with gelatin

3

: a thin colored transparent sheet used to color a stage light

Medical Definition

gelatin

noun

gel·​a·​tin

variants also gelatine

ˈjel-ət-ən 

1

: glutinous material obtained from animal tissues by boiling

especially : a colloidal protein used as a food, in photography, and in medicine

2

a

: any of various substances (as agar) resembling gelatin

b

: an edible jelly made with gelatin